Design Team Call

It's that time – we are looking for the most talented, craftiest bunch out there! Interested in being on our team? Here are all the details of our 2011-2012 Design Team Call!


Why be on our Design Team?

• Receive our entire line of stamps, inks, tools: a retail value of $1,800
• Receive new Peel & Stick packs as they are released throughout the year
• Receive $50 per project that is printed in magazine, $250 if you land the cover
• Occasionally receive free product from our cross promotional partners
• A crafting resume builder
• Gain real attention of your work

Requirements for Design Team: As a design team member, you are showing our customers how to use Peel & Stick stamps in the most clever, unique and creative ways possible.

• 1 year term: September 1^st, 2011 to August 31^st, 2012
• Create 3 projects per month, photograph them and mail them to us
• Occasionally participate in blog hops, or cross-promotional opportunities as they arise

Who we are looking for? We are expanding our team and are looking for specific people who can fill these roles:

• Shabby chic card designers
• Scrapbookers
• Non-card making, DIY, crafty types!
• Mommy's who create fun, educational, or inspirational activities for their wee-ones
• Crafters who do things on a budget
• Crafters who are into green living
• A gift wrapper extraordinaire

Do you match one of the descriptions below, want all the perks and agree to the terms? Applying is easy. Send 3 examples of your work, a very brief introduction to yourself and your blog address to libby@psaessentials.com by August 1^st, 2011. Please put: 2011-2012 DESIGN TEAM CALL APPLICATION in the subject matter. Our new team will be chosen and announced on August 15th. Good luck!

Hi!

Molly is into saying "hi" right now.  Walking up and down aisles at the grocery store, she says hi to every passerby and also inanimate objects, too.  "Hi, Pasta." "Hi, Rice." "Hi, Milk."  She's also just started asking: "What's that?" I will answer her question and she follows by saying hi.  For example - Molly: "What's that (pointing to the sewer in the street)?  Me: It's a sewer. Her: "Hi, sewer."  It's cute and funny!  I wonder how many times a day she actually says hi.  I bet it is close to one hundred.

Here are ideas by Anthonette Chavez for creating a "Hi" card. Let me tell you all the things I love about this first card. She's taken the time to STITCH the white thread into the card. The black, red, and flower patterned paper offer a nice contrast. And she's stamped one of my favorite sentiments from PSA Dare to Dream: "Thinking of You."

Let me tell you all the things I love about this next card. She's stamped each letter of "Just a note" from PSA Vanilla Peel & Stick stamps. She's embossed them. She's stamped the butterfly from PSA Cupcake – but then cut it out and mounted on 3D foam. She's used fun, summery yellow, patterned papers and a corner chomper to create rounded edges. LOVE!

The last card belongs in Martha Stewart's idea book. The adorable bumble bees floating (also mounted on 3D foam) really feel like they are flying. The way that they are placed ensure your eyes are moving around the page. Something we discussed a lot in art school…. She's tied twine from The Twinery along the edge and also used PSA Vanilla Peel & Stick stamps to stamp: "HI."

Fun ideas! What do you think? Leave a comment today and tell us "hi!"

4th of July Preview

Let's play word association today!   Here's the words:  4^th of July.  Tell me everything you associate with it.   I'll start:

• Red, White & Blue
• Stars and stripes
• Americana
• BBQ's and apple pie
• White picket fences
• The American dream
• Sparklers and fireworks
• My grandma Jan (it was her favorite holiday)

Our design team member Mara Campbell created paper rockets from beautiful red, white and blue and festive paper. She stamped "4" from PSA Vanilla Peel & Stick stamps, and the flag heart from PSA Topiary. These paper rockets are fun to create with kids or make great party decorations. Hang them from chairs at a dinner party or at your 4^th of July celebration.

They all look fun when tied together, too! Extremely festive and unexpected! Alright – it's your turn to play word association on our comments section!

Vacation

To celebrate Mike's birthday in June and my 30^th birthday in October, we are vacationing to Great Exuma, Bahamas in August. Have you ever done a Sandals vacation? This will be our third, and I can't rave about it enough. The food is superb, plus you can eat as much as you want whenever you want since it's all-inclusive (I gained 7 lbs on our honeymoon in one week – we generally had 5 meals a day). The service is impeccable and the accommodations are great, and you never take out your wallet. Check out where we are going  HERE
 

We will be gone Wednesday to Sunday – 5 days of nothing but my husband and I. For those of you who have kids, I am sure that you will agree that time with your husband alone is precious. I am also sure that you will agree that alone time is precious. I will be hitting the spa for my alone time. Insert my face and body here…

Since I obviously must travel in style for this trip, I am going to make our own luggage tags. Why not? PSA Essentials sells blank luggage tags, and you can use your custom address stamp on top. Cute, right?



Are you going on vacation this summer?  Do you have luggage tags?  These are cute, aren't they? 

Hello Kitty Love

Carly Robertson embraced our love of Hello Kitty with two great cards. With all the commercialism of her, it's hard not imagine Hello Kitty in bright pink. But Carly has shown she doesn't always have to be set against a sea of bubble gum and I think it really elevates the design. Used in this clean and simple style, Hello Kitty looks whimsical but modern and stylish! Not only Carly Robertson can do this - I am guessing you can, too! Here Carly has stamped the adorable character from Hello Kitty On the Go.

She created a "Good Luck" card fitting for children and adults. How much do I love this blue card stock? Look at the texture, it looks like tree rings! She's stamped Hello Kitty from On The Go.

As you can see, On The Go is a really versatile stamp set. There are lots of possibilities. What's your favorite Hello Kitty Peel & Stick pack we carry? See them all here: http://www.psaessentials.com/hellokitty.htm

Two great cards



Still trying to make the motto: "USPS forever" happen. There's something about getting a card in the mail for absolutely no reason at all that makes me smile. And a handmade card is even better. I don't care if they increase the postage to $1.00 per stamp, I am sticking with snail mail forever.

Tami Mayberry created two great cards that would surely brighten anyone's mailbox. Up first, she stamped Snoppy in an airplane from Peanuts Flying Ace. She set him in the clouds and stamped "the sky's the limit" from A Muse.  A simple card but very inspirational.

She's also created this fun summer card. She's stamped Snoopy against his surf board from Peanuts Cowabunga and colored him up beautifully. Coloring up your stamp really transforms it, doesn't it? It brings it to life. Check it out. Before, not colored up:

After, all colored up:

What kind of markers do you use?

Supply spotlight:

• Stamp: Peanuts-Flying Ace (PSA Essentials) Sky's the Limit (Amuse), Card stock: Navy Linen, White Linen (Posh Paper), Cloud die: My Favorite Things, Marker:Copic
• Stamp: Peanuts-Cowabunga (PSA Essentials) Sun-sational day (Amuse), Card stock: Light blue, Kraft (Gina K Designs), Dies: Classic Oval, Scalloped Oval (Spellbinders), Markers:Copic
  
   

PSA Press

Allow me to brag for a brief moment about our recent press. I wanted to share two places you can find PSA Essentials projects and reviews in issues out now. We've never been in either issue, so I am anxious to expose PSA Essentials and our crafts to new readers. Check us out in the June/July Cricut magazine on page 110. You can see a great tag by our design team member, Melyssa Connolly.

You can also see three amazing tags of hers on this YouTube video by Northridge Publishing. They selected her tags as some of their favorites in this issue for their sneak peak.

We are also in the Summer issue of Canadian Scrapbooker! You can find an editorial review of us on page 111 in "What's Cool in Canada!"

Happy reading!

Reasons to send a thank you note

When someone gives you a gift, it is good etiquette to write a thank you note. But there are so many other occasions that are appropriate for a hand written thank you note. Here are some ideas that you might not have always thought of writing a thank you note for. We recently discussed the first one at my friend Ashley's house. Do you agree?

• After a wedding, send a thank you to the bride's parents, or whomever hosted the reception, rehearsal dinner and brunch
• After a job interview, particularly if you had a personal connection with the interviewer (you share your alma matter, you both like sewing, anything discussed that was a highlight in your conversation!)
• When you've gone to a dinner party, even if it's a very close friend and you brought a small hostess gift

Our design team member Kelley Eubanks created some beautiful thank you notes for you to create. I can see giving the first one to a summer camp counselor after the program's finished. (Add that one to the list of things you might not have thought of!) You could also send it to someone who's just hosted you at their beach house this summer – perfect, isn't it? She stamped the sandcastle from PSA Anchors Aweigh and colored it up to really bring it to life.

Kelley took the time to stamp each letter of "thanks" from PSA Vanilla Peel & Stick® stamps. She's also used the Rosetta collection on this one. I love the primary colors contrasting with the black and white.

This thank you card would be perfect to send to someone who's just helped you through a tough time. If you're sick, had a loss in your family, or going through something difficult and a friend helps you out, when the dust settles and you are feeling better, a thank you is nice. A brighter idea –this also works as a baby shower thank you! Kelley stamped the umbrella from PSA Carriage. I love how she's colored it up so perfectly!

It's true I will use pretty much any excuse to create a card, or to send something in the mail. (Remember my motto: USPS Forever!) What other occasions can you think of that I am missing? Tell us here today!


Supply Spotlight:

1. Stamps- Anchor's Aweigh by PSA Essentials, Mega Mixed Messages by Papertrey, Paper - Kraft and Vintage Cream by Papertrey, Real Red by Stampin' Up. Ink - Jenni Bowlin Fountain Pen by Ranger, Vintage Photo Distress by Ranger, Other - Lily White Doodlebug Jewel, SU dimensionals, May Arts Natural String, Classic Square Nesties, Big Shot, Copic markers
2. Stamps - Vanilla AI, Vanilla JR, Vanilla SZ and Rosettas by PSA Essentials. Paper - White by Papertrey, Black and White Basics by Papertrey. Ink - Jenni Bowlin Fountain Pen, Chicken Feed, Lemon Drops, Seed Packet, and Cough Syrup by Ranger, Reflection Blue and Violette by Superior. Other - copic markers, E Line Pearls by Prima, Stampin' Up dimensionals and corner rounder
3. Stamps - Carriage by PSA Essentials, Loving Words by Ali Edwards from Technique Tuesday. Paper - Plum Pudding, Ripe Avocado, White and Polka Dot Parade by Papertrey. Ink - Versamark by Tsukineko, Violette by Superior, Jenni Bowlin Fountain Pen by Ranger. Other - Marvy and EK Success circle punches, Stampin' Up dimensionals, Cupcake Doodlebug Jewel, Black emboss powder by Superior, Heat tool by Darice, Copic Markers

HUGE Summer Sale

Here are a few things I like:

• Shopping
• High quality merchandise
• Getting a good deal

Here are a few things I don't like:

• Couponing. Does it double? What size package does it apply to? I'll watch Extreme Couponing on TLC with the others, but I don't have time to research, clip and organize like that.
• Killing myself to find the best deal in town.

The PSA Essentials Summer Sale fits everything I like and everything I don't like, which is hard to do sometimes (just ask my husband). The sale on PSA Essentials Custom Stamps is unprecedented and cannot be beat.  Get this: From now until Labor Day, PSA Personalized Stamps are on SALE for only $30 bucks (normally $40). YES! You heard me, sister.  Only $30 for a PSA PERSONALIZED Stamp.  I told you it was unprecedented! Start shopping HERE , right now!

I probably don't have to tell you that there are so many occasions when it's fun to use your PSA Essentials Custom Stamp. It makes a great gift, too! Whether it's for birthday, graduation, housewarming, hostess gifts, wedding, baby, bridal, or a gift to yourself – all reasons are good. Here's another thought: take advantage of the summer sale for your holiday gifts, too. Get 'em out of the way!


See our complete list of retailers, web, store & international HERE

Best Friends Day

Best Friend necklaces caused a lot of problems for me in middle school. Lauren Pallotta had one with Katie Cuff and I was so jealous, I could barely see straight. Katie and I got a "Friends Forever" necklace but it wasn't the same. I went in search for Best Friend necklaces, wondering if they were still wreaking havoc on middle schools and causing girl drama around the nation. Tiffany & Co. should add some sterling silver ones to their collection, the $11.99 pewter one I just ordered as a gift for Ashley's second annual thirtieth birthday will likely turn green and this idea has a lot of potential to come back into style.


June 8^th was Best Friends Day (some made up holiday that I am happy to blog about). I'm so sorry I missed it. Our designer Jeanne Streiff created three unique gifts to celebrate this superfluous yet fabulous holiday. She created a treat bag by stamping with PSA Rosettas and Smirk Caffeine Confidents.

She also created colorful gift wrap. She stamped from PSA Rosettas in different color inks! What a pretty package.

She created a candle, fun to give as a gift. She's also used Smirk Caffeine Confidents and PSA Rosettas. I love the layering here!

A salute to my BF4L's (Best Friends for Life), in no particular order:

• Danielle Lentine
• Kristin Protas
• Ashley Gammon
• Kara Alesi
• Jenny Smith

I also consider my sister-in-law's Meghan and Betsy my BF4L's, and a shot out to my very good friends, Susie, Britt, Abby, Lisa, Erin, Witmer, and the entire cast of the Hog Squad.

Supply spotlight:

• Treat bag: Stamps: PSA Essentials ( Smirk Caffeine Confidants). Inks: PSA Essentials (Grapefruit Pink, Espresso Brown). Papers: Discount Cardstock.com (Posh Milk Chocolate Felt, Orchid Cascasta Felt, Simply Smooth White). Ribbon: Really Reasonable Ribbons ( Satin w/ grosgrain edge Rose). Dies: Spellbinders (Classic Circles Large, Eyelet Circles). Glue Dot (Glue Dot International). Sponge Dauber. Clear treat bag. ¼" hole punch
• Gift Wrap: Stamps: PSA Essentials – Rosettas, Smirk Caffeine Confidants. Inks: PSA Essentials - Grapefruit Pink, Black, Lime Green, Turquoise, Poppy Orange. Papers: Discount Cardstock.com (Baby Blue Dark, Simply Smooth White). Twine : The Twinery (Pink Sorbet). Ribbon: Really Reasonable Ribbons ( Orange Organza). Punches: EK Success 1" and 1 1/4" circle punches. Foam dimensional squares (Helmar)
• Candle Gift: Stamps: PSA Essentials ( Rosettas, Dare to Dream). Inks: PSA Essentials (Grapefruit Pink, Black, Poppy Orange, Espresso Brown). Papers: Discount Cardstock.com (Baby Pink Medium, Simply Smooth White). Ribbon: Really Reasonable Ribbons (Stitched Edge Reversible Pink Satin). Dies: Spellbinders (Classic Circles Large, Eyelet Circles). Glue Dot (Glue Dot International). Foam dimensional squares (Helmar)

Cards for Kids – Day 2

Go ahead and make the front page of Alpha Mom™. Be that mom that all the mom's say: "how does she do that?!" With these very inspiring cards for the wee-ones, you are sure to make a giant impression on your kids and let them know how much you love them. Use these card ideas for a special occasion, a milestone or acheivement reached, or no reason at all. I am looking forward to the day when I can make cards like these and send them as surprises in Molly's lunch box!

This "Howdy Partner" card is great for a little boy. The yellow and brown are a perfect summer combination. Jennifer Holmes has stamped the "Sheriff" from PSA Rocket. She's stamped over and over again to illustrate the patterned effect you can get with our stamps. She's taken a lot of care to ensure that they are lined up – but if you have less time, you will find that using your PSA Stamper gets you even and quick impressions and you need not spend too much time lining up your stamper.

Jennifer has also used PSA Rocket stamp set, shades of green, blue and crisp white for this encouraging card. Notice the circular stars in the blue in the background. She's stamped with the outer ring of PSA Rocket.

On the last, Jennifer has taken a piece of yellow card stock and stamped with PSA Rosettas in a darker yellow to create a subtle but interesting pattern in the background.

You will notice that none of the sentiments here are PSA. "Hey there, chickadee", "Howdy Partner", "Have a blast on your big day" are the ones used here today made by other companies. We are in the midst of working on sentiment sets for PSA. What must we include? Please tell us your thoughts and what you think of Jennifer's cards today!

Cards for Kids – Day 1

Finding a card without a giant number, Disney princess, or cartoon character is a real challenge when you are looking for a card for a kid. There just doesn't seem to be a line for children at the card store suits me. Our designers Kelley Eubanks and Jennifer Holmes have such a CAS (clean and simple) style, a knack for eye popping color and whimsical design, that I think Halmark should take a look at their work. I really believe there's a void! I'll be showcasing cards for kids over the next two days. Maybe there's a little one in your life that could use a card and you are inspired.

Kelley Eubanks created two cards that work well together as a set. She's stamped the sailboat from PSA Anchors Aweigh and the airplane from PSA Rocket. I love how she's played contrasting colors of red and blue and white. She's used her Spellbinders Square Dies so the paper is perfectly straight. This is key with such a simple deisgn. It has to be executed and crafted flawlessly.

Jennifer Holmes created this adorable card using PSA Anchors Aweigh. She's actually floated the boat in a turquoise paper sea. The sentiment "Love you Sailor Boy" by Waltzing Mouse Stamps is just perfect for sending to your little boy.

It was a complete coincidence that these two girls choose similar colors of red, white and blue. Tell me – what colors would you like to see in children's cards? What else would you like to see in children's cards?

Want2Scrap & PSA Essentials Blog Hop

I feel in love with the Want2Scrap chipboard albums – many of them break out of the 12x12 scrapbook mold and that's just what I think we need in the crafting world now.    I have a Dress Chipboard Album and am working on something for my daughter now using it. I am going to pair it with our UBU Girls Got Game Peel & Stick stamps and create something special. (Too bad I couldn't get my act together before this.)

Check out these other really cute ones… which are your favorite? See all of their products here: http://want2scrap.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=124

Our PSA Essentials design team and Want2Scrap's design team traded product for today's hop. If you are just starting out, follow the entire link list below and hop along to see really great designs by talented ladies!  If this is your last stop, thanks for hopping.   Wouldn't you like to win?  Here are the details on our big giveaway!


The Big Giveaway:

• PSA Essentials is giving away: 1 stamper, 1 Peel & Stick packs of winners choice - $45 value
• Want2Scrap is giving away a $35 gift certificate to their store!

How to enter:

• Be a follower of PSA Stamp Camp Blog & Comment – 1 entry
• Be a follower of Want2Scrap Blog & comment - 1 entry
• Comment on each blog – 1 entry
• Dates of entry for the giveaway are 6/13 - 6/15
• Winner will be chosen on 6/16 and announced on Facebook

Hop Order:

Want2Scrap Blog: http://want2scrapco.blogspot.com/

Tami Mayberry: http://www.tamimayberry.blogspot.com/

Amber Zimmerman: http://amberzimm.blogspot.com/

Mimi Leinbach http://mycharmingblog-scrappermimi.blogspot.com/

Kelley Eubanks: http://www.myfrontporch-kelley.blogspot.com/

Heidi Blankenship  http://embellished-dreams.blogspot.com/

Kim Moreno: http://www.livingthecircuslife.blogspot.com/

Mara Campbell: http://www.loveyourmotherearth.blogspot.com/

Terre Fry  http://terresscraptherapy.blogspot.com/

Stephanie Jones: http://pinkstarcreations.blogspot.com/

Elise Durenberger  http://mamacowcreations.blogspot.com/

Anthonette Chavez: http://chavezdesigns.blogspot.com/

Jeanne Streiff: http://inkypaws.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/

Dana Gustafson  http://paperdaydream.blogspot.com/

Jennifer Holmes: http://www.simpleflourishes.com/

Marie Ramirez: http://www.absosweetmarie.blogspot.com/

Melyssa Connolly: http://www.fantastink.blogspot.com/

Michele Ciola: http://creative-mayhem.blogspot.com/.

YOU ARE HERE! PSA Stamp Camp: http://www.psastampcamp.blogspot.com/
 

Have fun!

A Hostess Gift

We went to a great dinner party the other night. Last minute, before we ran out the door to get there, I grabbed a bottle of wine from our rack, tied a ribbon, and wrote a thank-you with our personal stationery and called that a hostess gift. They threw a really nice party – the spread of cheese, crackers, shrimp, olives, stuffed mushrooms, lobster salad, selection of wine, beer and liquor was extensive and impressive. And that was just the start of the evening! Burgers, dogs, and all the side fixings followed. With a little advanced planning, crafting & stamping with PSA, I could have made a stronger statement and thank-you for all the hard work and generosity.

Melyssa Connolly on our design team created a unique and fun hostess gift. She used her PSA "M" Monogram stamp set and created a Post-It note holder! It's clever and cute. Since it's personalized, it shows thought and since it's hand crafted, it shows care.

 Be sure to check out our Gigi-Monograms! They are super cute.  If you don't have time to make a post-it note pad like Melyssa, consider the stamper & a monogram pack as a hostess gift!

Graduation

I remember my high school graduation like it was yesterday. We wore Winchester Sachem colors – the girls red and the boys black. I proudly wore the yellow "NHS" National Honors Society sash, and also our group of friends wore Hawaiian lays. I felt a true sense of accomplishment that day. Even at the time, I knew it was a day I would always remember – I can tell you which teachers and students spoke, and recall what they said.

College graduation was different – since I went to The University of Michigan and I graduated with 6,000 people in my class, I didn't even attend a ceremony. My diplomas got mailed to me. A little anti-climatic for 5 years, $250,000, a B.F.A. and a B.A., don't you think?

To celebrate the class of 2011, Tami Mayberry created this clean and simple "2011" card, instead of a "0" she used a Hello Kitty from Hello Kitty School Days. The red, white and blue primary color scheme is a perfect color combination for school graduation.

These cute cards work great for kids, perhaps an elementary or middle school graduation coming up. Tami is using stamps from Hello Kitty School Days & from PSA Super Star. I love when designers use stamps from different sets on one project! Tami uses thick card stock and her cards are well crafted.

I am borrowing this subway art sign from the Girls at 1825 and sharing with you today. Head on over to The Girls, you can download this poster and change colors, fonts & customize.

June is a busy month for card makers. It's all about Dads & Grads! Are you creating for these occasions?


Supply spotlight:

1) Stamps:  Hello Kitty School Days, Vanilla 10 (PSA Essentials), Card stock: White, Blue, red

Ink: Red, Blue (Clearsnap), Gems: Red, blue (Hero Arts), Dies: Rectangles, Scalloped rectangles (Spellbinders), 3D foam Squares (Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L), Corner rounder

2)  Stamps: Hello Kitty School Days, Super Star (PSA Essentials), Card stock: Black and Blue Swiss dot, red, white, Black ink, Markers, Pearls: Kaiser Craft, Dies: Nested Pennants (Spellbinders)

3)  Stamps: Hello Kitty School Days, Super Star (PSA Essentials), Card stock: Med and Dark blue Swiss dot, red, yellow. Black ink, Red gems: Kaiser Craft, Dies: Nested Pennants, circles, stars (Spellbinders), Corner rounder, 3D foam squares, Yellow baker’s twine (The Twinery)